Biography
Jill Sykes works in a space between figuration and abstraction, shape and ground, in a classic expressionistic push-pull. She plays with the picture plane as a flat surface as well as create a background that subsequently moves the viewer forward and back. Her interest in a sensuous surface is evident in the juicy, liquid application of the oil paint.

Compositionally with these botanical paintings, Jill works with an enlarged and closely cropped image, abstracting sometimes to an unrecognizable point the identity of the actual plant. The high contrast of the colors focuses the eye to the edge of each distinct shape as it becomes a line. This contrast of the light-drenched backgrounds against darker plant forms showcases the idiosyncratic leaf and stem shapes. Though draftsmanship is a hallmark of her work, she thinks of herself as a colorist and takes supreme pleasure in the subtle relationships of contrasting pigments. Through washes of oil she allows traces of intense color to filter through, keeping the brush stroke visible, but subtle. The surfaces of these canvases allow the viewer to see the many layers of translucent paint.

Ultimately Jill is drawn to the elegance and energy of natural forms such as palm fronds or bamboo, and the negative spaces between the leaves and branches. They afford her an abstracted experience with inherent contrasts, creating wonderful shapes that spin webs across a neutral ground.

Jill Sykes was born and raised in Los Angeles and completed her formal artist training at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles and the Academy of Art/Lone Mountain College in San Francisco, where she studied with Gordon Cook, among others. She worked as a graphic designer and illustrator in the fields of film and business advertising, animation and educational media, as well as designed and implemented countless corporate logos. Over time her work became focused on painting. She was initially drawn to abstract expressionism as a departure from the rigid techniques of graphics, primarily using a staining technique with acrylics on raw canvas. In the late 1990's she enrolled at the Santa Monica School of Design, Art & Architecture working with Laddie John Dill, Ann Thornycroft and Francesco Siqueiros. Ultimately this led to her current work in oils and printmaking; all of these images are explorations of color, shape, movement and mood.

Resume

EDUCATION
1999 Santa Monica School of Design, Art & Architecture, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA
1971-75 The Academy of Art and Lone Mountain College, San Francisco, CA
1970 Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, CA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008 SYCAMORE HOUSE, Pacific Palisades, CA
(www.sycamorehouseonline.com) 2006 REMARKABLE GIFTS, The Colony Theatre Gallery, Burbank, CA
2005 SMALL BITES, The Lot, Los Angeles, CA
2003 ARBOR ART, Angels' Ink Gallery, San Pedro, CA
BUFFALO JAKE, Red Door Studio, Los Angeles, CA
2002 BOTANICAL MEDITATIONS, Roberts Art Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2001 RECENT PAINTINGS - X3, Gallery Louise, Los Angeles, CA
2000 ABSTRACTIONS, Harbor City/Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Torrance, CA
SEA SIDE, Gallery G, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
WORKS ON PAPER, 7th & Grand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
COLOR ALL AROUND US, Pacific Place, San Pedro, CA
1999 SMALL, MEDIUM & LARGE, TTB Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
4 NEW PAINTINGS, LaSalle Tower Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
SKY VIEWS, Museum Adjunct Gallery, San Diego, CA
1998 NEW PAINTINGS, Barbara West Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
SMALL WORKS, TTB Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
RECENT PAINTINGS, 7th & Grand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
DICHOTOMIES, 7th & Grand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1997 RECENT PAINTINGS, Lunaria Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
5 LARGE PAINTINGS, World Gallery, Hollywood, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1996-07 BREWERY ART WALK (semi-annual), The Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Brand Library Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
2008 SUMMER, Scape Gallery, Corona Del Mar, CA
GROUP SHOW, Milo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
COMPLEMENTS, Angels' Ink Gallery, San Pedro, CA
CONFLUENCE, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts Gallery, Pagosa Springs, CO
2007 ANNIVERSARY, Milo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
SUDDENLY THIS SUMMER, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts Gallery, Pagosa Springs, CO
VERDURE (2 person exhibition), Milo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
VENICE ART WALK SILENT AUCTION, Santa Monica, CA
IN HARMONY WITH NATURE, Regent Gallery North, Los Angeles, CA
HAUSGUESTS, Haus Gallery at The Brewery Project, Los Angeles, CA
2006 GREAT THINGS, Angels' Ink Gallery, San Pedro, CA
SHADES OF NATURE, Chase Mitchell Gallery, Santa Ana, CA
VENICE ART WALK SILENT AUCTION, Santa Monica, CA
GROUP SHOW, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
GLORY BE, Angels' Ink Gallery, San Pedro, CA
CHROMATIC CONVERSATION, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA GET:ART, Project Angel Food Auction, Los Angeles, CA
2005 HOLIDAYS WITH RUMBA, Rumba, Santa Monica, CA
FALL PREVIEW, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
20/20 VISION, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
LIVING WITH ART, Rumba, Santa Monica, CA
SPRING PREVIEW, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2004 BREWERY ARTISTS SMALL WORKS, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
3 PAINTERS - LAMBERT/SYKES/THORNYCROFT, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
OPEN CALL L.A. 2004, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
VENICE ART WALK SILENT AUCTION, Venice, CA
BREWERY ARTISTS SMALL WORKS, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
NATURA NATURANS (2 person exhibition), Absolute Art Gallery, San Marino, CA
2003 AGING - PEOPLE, PLACES & PERCEPTIONS, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
BREWERY ARTISTS SMALL WORKS, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
SEEING RED...IN AND AROUND US, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
SMALL WORKS, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2002 BETWEEN DIMENSIONS, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
REACTIONS, Williamson Gallery, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA (on tour from Exit Art, New York, NY)
BREWERY ARTISTS GROUP SHOW, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
LACMA/Muse BREWERY ART WALK, The Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
. FLORA AND FAUNA, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
MAKE-UP AND MASQUERADE, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
WALLWORKS, 19th Annual Juried Competition, LA Artcore, Los Angeles, CA
A SPRING OBSESSION, 2002 Juried Art Competition, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA
REACTIONS, Exit Art, New York, NY
2001 2001 JURIED SHOW, 57 Underground, Pomona, CA (curated by Roland Reiss)
ART LUCK, Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, Eagle Rock, CA
WALLWORKS, 18th Annual Juried Competition, LA Artcore, Los Angeles, CA
2001 JURIED ALL MEDIA EXHIBITION, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, CA
ART RENTAL GALLERY, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
2000 OFF THE WALL, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, CA
OF & ON PAPER, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
SMALL WORKS SHOW, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1999 9TH ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION, Inner City Arts, Los Angeles, CA
WALL HUNG, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
HOLIDAY SHOW, Art-Pic Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
TWELVE INCH SHOW, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
VENICE VORTEX, Santa Monica College Art Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
SALON DU PETIT, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA
9TH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SILENT AUCTION, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
SMALL WORKS, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
GRAND OPENING, Gallery 121, Pasadena, CA
WOMEN'S CAUCUS FOR THE ARTS, National Conference Tour, Los Angeles, CA
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, Art-Pic Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
1998 8TH ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION, Inner City Arts, Los Angeles, CA
THE OCTOBER SHOW, Barbara West Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION SILENT AUCTION, The Artrium Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Angels Gate Fellow

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rossbund, Krissa; "California Greenin'," Traditional Home Magazine, May 2008 Volume XIX Issue III, page 199
Goebel, Leanne, "Pagosa's 'Confluence' Exhibit Reprises Artists," The Durango Herald, January 11, 2008
Coffee, Denise; "'Confluence' at Shy Rabbit Features 11 Nationally Recognized Artists," The Pagosa Springs SUN, January 10, 2008
Coffee, Denise; "'Suddenly This Summer' at Shy Rabbit," The Pagosa Springs SUN Preview, August 2, 2007, Section 1, pg. 18
Turner, Nancy Kay; "The Zen of Nature, or Nature as Meditation," Coagula Art Journal, August 2007, #87, pg. 22
Brumer, Andy; "Jill Sykes & Michelle Stitz at Milo Gallery," ArtScene Magazine, July/August 2007, Vol. 26, No. 11, pg. 13
"Molly Barnes Art News," Radio Interview, KCSN 88.5 FM, June 11, 2007
Gadberry, Shawn; "Living Art," The Fresno Bee, Summer 2005
Gleason, Mat; "Jean Hearst & Jill Sykes at Absolute Art Gallery," ArtScene Magazine, March 2004, Vol. 23, No. 7, pg. 15
Gottlieb, Shirle; "Face Dances," Press-Telegram, May 31, 2002
Gilbert, Rick; "Makeup to Masquerade at Angels Gate Cultural Center," Artweek, July 2002
Angels Gate Cultural Center & Port of Los Angeles; "A BOOK OF DAYS, Seeing Los Angeles From its Angels Gate," 2002

SELECTED CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Amelia Island Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, FL
Atlanta Perimeter Amerisuites, Atlanta, GA
Bally's, Atlantic City, NJ
Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
The Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ
Collins, Collins, Muir & Traveler LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Digital Wireless Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
Druid Hills Country Club, Atlanta, GA
Four Points Sheraton, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, CA
Harrah's, Atlantic City, NJ
Harrah's Rincon, San Diego, CA
Horseshoe Hotel, Bossier, LA
Hyatt Key West Resort, Key West, FL
Hyatt Place Lombard, Chicago, IL
Hyatt Place Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ
Liberty Livewire, Santa Monica, CA
Mandalay Bay Resorts and Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Mandalay Bay Resorts, Maui, HA
Marriot, Panama City, FL
Newport Beach Marriot, Newport Beach, CA
Omni Champions Gate Resort Hotel, Orlando, FL
Princess Cruises, Santa Clarita, CA
Qwest Technology, Burbank, CA
Sanibel Harbour Resort, Fort Myers, FL
Sheraton Four Points Delfina, Santa Monica, CA
Sheraton Gateway, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, CA
Sprint Nextel, Reston, VA
Westin Governor's Suite, Philadelphia, PA

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Alan and Mary Anne Amitin, Glendale, CA
Betty Bluml and Joseph S. DeVinny, Long Beach, CA
Lisa Datillo, Santa Monica, CA
Douglas Davies, Amsterdam, Netherlands Peter A. Del Franco, Los Angeles, CA
Barbara Flammang and Wade Killefer, Santa Monica, CA
Dr.'s Scott and Renee Fraser, Los Angeles, CA
Shannon and Stephen Gabor, Venice, CA
Morgan Gendal, Los Angeles, CA
Michael Goodrich, Sherman Oaks, CA
M. S. Jaybush, Los Angeles, CA
Karen Jefchak and Vincent Leveque, Los Angeles, CA
Tony Jonas, Beverly Hills, CA
George Knoke, Los Angeles, CA
Karina Maher & Michael Kovac, Pacific Palisades, CA
Kenneth Mars, Granada Hills, CA
Joetta McCuaig, Sherman Oaks, CA
Kevin McDermott, Hermosa Beach, CA
John Meisenhelder, Sierra Madre, CA
Mary Michiels, Los Angeles, CA
Karen Montoya, Santa Monica, CA
Jennie Nigrosh and Rick Siegel, Los Angeles, CA
Tom and Renee Page, Saugus, CA
Justine Parra, CA
labasas, CA
Christine Sacani and Michael Rintoul, Santa Monica, CA
Joe Sanford, Palos Verdes, CA
Cecil H. Schmidt III, Los Angeles, CA
Nancy Schwappach, Playa Vista, CA
Brenda and Brian Steffensen, Orange, CA
Heather Thomas, Los Angeles, CA
Janet Thomas, Courtenay, B.C., CA
nada Jennifer Todd, Santa Monica, CA
Joseph Trojan, Marina Peninsula, CA
Barbara West, Pasadena, CA

RELATED WORK 1987 - Present
Jill Sykes Design, Graphic Design and Illustration